SALT LAKE CITY – Despite a strong first half that included goals from Kaela Standish and Courtney Brown, the University of Utah women’s soccer team saw their 2023 season end with a 3-2 defeat to the Colorado Buffaloes on Friday afternoon in Pac-12 Conference action at Ute Field in Salt Lake City.
The Utes conclude the year with a 6-8-6 overall record and a conference mark of 2-6-3.
“This was a brutal way to end the season for us today,” said head coach Hideki Nakada. “First, I have to give tons of credit to Colorado for finding a way to come back to beat us from being down 0-2. That said, we weren’t quite mature and hard enough to manage the game, as their first two goals were very much preventable.”
Utah got off to a flying start and outshot the Buffaloes in the first half, while also getting excellent work from Kasey Wardle in goal, as she reeled in five saves. The Utes put together their best chances after the halfway mark in the period and collected five shots over one six-minute span that started in the 28th minute and eventually led to the day’s first goal.
That score came courtesy of Kaela Standish, who got on the end of a corner kick by Ryann Cull in the 35th minute and booted a shot past the keeper for her second goal of the season, while Cull snagged her third assist.
Despite Colorado’s attempts to even the score, three stops by Wardle denied the visiting club and, just before the half, Kennedy Schoennauer drew a foul in the box that earned the Utes a penalty kick. Courtney Brown buried the try in the back of the net for her third goal of the season and the 14th of her career for 2-0 lead Utah carried into halftime.
The Buffaloes were able to capitalize on a pair of chances early in the second half, as goals by Lawson Willis in the 54th minute and Shyra James in the 56th minute evened the score. Over the next half-hour, only Utah’s Lilliah Blum was able to put a shot on goal, but Colorado found a winner courtesy of James in the 89th minute and the visitors held on after that.
“I’d like to thank our outgoing seniors Courtney Brown, Ragan Vanschalkwyk, and Megan Quiggle for all that they’ve done for this program over the years. I am grateful I could be a small part of their journey here at The U and I’m excited to see the next chapter in their lives.”
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